What constitutes a "black film?"

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O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

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Jan 5, 2014 3:02 PM
Had a friend on Facebook ask the following question:

"[What is the] Best Black films to watch on Netflix on this most snowy of all days?"

So I ask: What constitutes a black film? What makes a film a "black" film?
Jan 5, 2014 3:02pm
rmolin73's avatar

rmolin73

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Jan 5, 2014 3:03 PM
Here we go.........
Jan 5, 2014 3:03pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

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Jan 5, 2014 3:05 PM
Tyler Perry
Jan 5, 2014 3:05pm
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

Chief Shenanigans Officer

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Jan 5, 2014 3:06 PM
rmolin73;1562850 wrote:Here we go.........
I am aware this is going to end up resembling monkeys throwing feces at each other, as most threads do if they involve race.

But I'm genuinely serious. I asked her, as if I've seen a good one, I would recommend it, but the response was, "if the protagonist is black it is a black film/ cinematic experience."

Obviously, the former is easy to determine. But the latter still seems nebulous and arbitrary.

Hopefully, someone can actually give a decent response before this devolves.
Jan 5, 2014 3:06pm
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

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Jan 5, 2014 3:06 PM
wes_mantooth;1562853 wrote:Tyler Perry
Okay. A starting point. Now what makes it a black film?
Jan 5, 2014 3:06pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

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Jan 5, 2014 3:13 PM
I think the person wasn't necessarily trying to be racist, and to the point above was referencing a film by a Black director, which is often Tyler Perry. That is unfortunate given that the Hughes Brothers and Singleton have directed some quality films.
Jan 5, 2014 3:13pm
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ernest_t_bass

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Jan 5, 2014 3:24 PM
A Spike Lee Joint
Jan 5, 2014 3:24pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

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Jan 5, 2014 3:29 PM
ernest_t_bass;1562881 wrote:A Spike Lee Joint
Aside from "Do the Right Thing", I'm not sure what he's done other than being courtside at Knicks games and an annoyance to Reggie Miller. But it made for a great joke on "The Office" when there was a Michael Scott joint.
Jan 5, 2014 3:29pm
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

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Jan 5, 2014 3:35 PM
Manhattan Buckeye;1562864 wrote:I think the person wasn't necessarily trying to be racist, and to the point above was referencing a film by a Black director, which is often Tyler Perry. That is unfortunate given that the Hughes Brothers and Singleton have directed some quality films.
Oh I don't think she was trying to be racist at all, and I didn't take it that way.

Moreover, there might be such a thing as a "black film," if it was intended to be so and there are criteria for it. I was just curious what she was actually looking for. Would Ali be considered a black film? Django: Unchained? Boyz N the Hood? Coming to America?
Jan 5, 2014 3:35pm
C

Con_Alma

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Jan 5, 2014 3:38 PM
O-Trap;1562902 wrote:... if it was intended to be so and there are criteria for it. I was just curious what she was actually looking for....
...that could be the answer....one that was intended to appeal to the black community or one that the black community found appealing.

It would make your question hard to answer if you didn't know the intentions of the producer or have seen the response of the black community to a particular film.
Jan 5, 2014 3:38pm
LJ's avatar

LJ

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Jan 5, 2014 3:38 PM
O-Trap;1562902 wrote:Oh I don't think she was trying to be racist at all, and I didn't take it that way.

Moreover, there might be such a thing as a "black film," if it was intended to be so and there are criteria for it. I was just curious what she was actually looking for. Would Ali be considered a black film? Django: Unchained? Boyz N the Hood? Coming to America?
See below
Jan 5, 2014 3:38pm
ptown_trojans_1's avatar

ptown_trojans_1

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Jan 5, 2014 3:46 PM
Manhattan Buckeye;1562888 wrote:Aside from "Do the Right Thing", I'm not sure what he's done other than being courtside at Knicks games and an annoyance to Reggie Miller. But it made for a great joke on "The Office" when there was a Michael Scott joint.
Malcolm X, Mo Better Blues, He Got Game, Original Kings of Comedy, Inside Man, and Mike Tyson show.

Those are his great films in my view.


As to what is a black film, I'd say a largely black cast. Simple as that. Doesn't have to be a comedy at all. So, yeah O-Trap, all those movies you listed would probably be listed as a Black film.
Jan 5, 2014 3:46pm
wes_mantooth's avatar

wes_mantooth

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Jan 5, 2014 4:09 PM
O-Trap;1562858 wrote:Okay. A starting point. Now what makes it a black film?
All black cast typically and I don't know one white person that can stand his shows or movies

Problem is....I don't know one black person that can stand his shows or movies
Jan 5, 2014 4:09pm
M

Manhattan Buckeye

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Jan 5, 2014 4:09 PM
ptown_trojans_1;1562920 wrote:Malcolm X, Mo Better Blues, He Got Game, Original Kings of Comedy, Inside Man, and Mike Tyson show.

Those are his great films in my view.


As to what is a black film, I'd say a largely black cast. Simple as that. Doesn't have to be a comedy at all. So, yeah O-Trap, all those movies you listed would probably be listed as a Black film.
Malcolm X is a maybe. Mo Better Blues and He Got Game haven't aged well. I haven't seen the rest so no judgment one way or the other.
Jan 5, 2014 4:09pm
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Jan 5, 2014 4:34 PM
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Jan 5, 2014 4:53 PM
New Jack City.
Jan 5, 2014 4:53pm
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GoChiefs

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Jan 5, 2014 5:13 PM
Boyz N Tha Hood
Jan 5, 2014 5:13pm
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Belly35

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Jan 5, 2014 5:21 PM
"mofo" is in the dialogue
Jan 5, 2014 5:21pm
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Jan 5, 2014 5:41 PM
Manhattan Buckeye;1562888 wrote:Aside from "Do the Right Thing", I'm not sure what he's done other than being courtside at Knicks games and an annoyance to Reggie Miller. But it made for a great joke on "The Office" when there was a Michael Scott joint.
Inside Man was a Spike Lee Joint and it was one excellent film.
Jan 5, 2014 5:41pm
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BRF

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Jan 5, 2014 5:44 PM
Shaft!

They say that cat Shaft is a bad....

hush yo mouth!
Jan 5, 2014 5:44pm
O-Trap's avatar

O-Trap

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Jan 5, 2014 6:46 PM
I would have lost a bet on how long this stayed civil.

So, largely black cast. What about a mostly-white cast with a black protagonist and a theme around a major moment in black history?
Jan 5, 2014 6:46pm
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BRF

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Jan 5, 2014 6:49 PM
The Mod Squad

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major moment: the 60's
Jan 5, 2014 6:49pm
Chesapeake's avatar

Chesapeake

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Jan 5, 2014 6:52 PM
At some point, they're gonna have to stop having black colleges, black tv channels and etc. Shit is racist.
Jan 5, 2014 6:52pm
BRF's avatar

BRF

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Jan 5, 2014 6:52 PM
^^ oh wait........that was a TV show....my bad.
Jan 5, 2014 6:52pm